Changes

==Great Britain==

==Great Britain==

The '''poll tax''', also known as the community charge, was a failed attempt at a true [[level tax]], introduced by [[Margaret Thatcher]] in [[Scotland]] in 1988 and in [[England]] and [[Wales]] in 1990. The thinking behind it was that instead of traditional taxation systems based on [[income tax|income]], the total tax requirement would be divided by the population, thus ensuring that everyone paid the same amount. While popular with those who had previously been paying high levels of taxation, it proved unpopular with the [[poor]], many of whom were left with tax bills of more than their entire income. Disquiet with the [[poll tax]], combined with her growing personal unpopularity and a sense within her party that she was an electoral liability<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/31/newsid_2530000/2530763.stm</ref>, forced Thatcher from office in November 1990.  She was replaced by [[John Major]].

The '''poll tax''', also known as the community charge, was the changing of rates so everyone payed the same amount of housing tax, introduced by [[Margaret Thatcher]] in [[Scotland]] in 1988 and in [[England]] and [[Wales]] in 1990. The thinking behind it was that instead of the tax being based on the price of the house , the total tax would be the same for everyone, thus ensuring that everyone paid the same amount. While popular with those who had previously been paying high levels of taxation, it proved unpopular with the [[poor]], many of whom were left more then they could afford. Disquiet with the [[poll tax]], combined with her growing personal unpopularity and a sense within her party that she was an electoral liability<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/31/newsid_2530000/2530763.stm</ref>, forced Thatcher from office in November 1990.  She was replaced by [[John Major]].

The Poll tax in the UK was replaced in 1993 by the Council Tax.  The rate of Council Tax is set by the Local Government, who then receive 25% of the revenue to fund local services.  The Tax is split into several bands with the band you pay based upon the value of your main house.  There are discounts for single occupiers of a residence.  Council Tax is often seen as unpopular and regressive, and there are some political parties that wish to replace the flat bands based on house value with a local income tax based upon yearly income.

The Poll tax in the UK was replaced in 1993 by the Council Tax.  The rate of Council Tax is set by the Local Government, who then receive 25% of the revenue to fund local services.  The Tax is split into several bands with the band you pay based upon the value of your main house.  There are discounts for single occupiers of a residence.  Council Tax is often seen as unpopular and regressive, and there are some political parties that wish to replace the flat bands based on house value with a local income tax based upon yearly income.